Process op reclamation of crank case or used oils



L. J. IRELAND OR u o s July 18, PR00ES5 OF REC-LAMATION OF CRANK (ASE SED IL Re.

Original Filed Aug. 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 27 INVENTOR LEWIS JJRELAND.

ATTORNEY L. J. IRELAND PROCESS OF REGLAMATION OF CRANK CASE OR USED OILS July 18, 1933. Re. 18,898

Original Filed Aug. 25 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 2 5Q I "F 2 JUAZJM' A 5330 1 I (in 1/5,. i :34

LEWIS JJRELANI)- ATTORNEY Reissued July 1 8, 1933 v UNITED STATES,

PATENT oFFIcs LEWIS J. IRELAND, or AUSTIN, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR, BY nmsor enn .MEsnE nssrem mum's, TO TRIILOIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or \VILMINGTON, DELAWARE, a

' CORPORATION OEDELAWARE PROCESS or RECLAMATION OF CRANK CASE on USED oILs Original N0. 1,851,432, dated March 2 9, 1932, Serial i reissue filed November 14,

This invention relates to the process of reclamation or reconditionlng used petroleum oils and it has p'artleularreference to certain advanced steps in a process for reiseflected theremoval of diluents, such as gas and water laden molecules, dust,- carbon, motor grlnchngs and similar foreign substances whose presence in the oil renders it neffective for further use as a lubricant Rapid deterioration of lubricating oils, especially those used inlinternal combustion motors, is a result either from leaky piston rings, contamination with dirt and other abrasive foreign substances. Moreover, in

many cases faulty fractionation will result,

in rapid dilution in'the case of the cheaper grades of oil, due to the presence of highly volatile constituents. This'condition can be overcome by the use of the present invention by'the removal of such diluent portions of the oil, to eliminate the non-lubricating solids or abrasive forei n substances due to the presence of dustand similar matter accunn'llating in the crank case.

' The invention seeks to providea method by which to effect absolute restoration of this lubricating medium to its original specification. I

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has particular reference to its salient featuresof construction and arrangement of parts which will become manifest" as the description proceeds,-..taken in connection with the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is avertical seetion of the apparatus by which the several steps of the method are carried out, showing a tankand COIICBIItIIC arrangement of ackets; and

- Figure 2 is a vertical section of a modified form of tank with the steam jacket omitted.

Continuing with a more detailed explanationof the drawings,1designates a cylindri- LNo. 477,582, f led August 25, 1930. Application for 1932. Serial Nb. 642.687.

cal tank constructed so as to define a substanti ally funnel shaped lower portion. A steam heating jacket 2 and a fuel heating jacket 3 surround the tank'l in concentric relationship. 7

In continuing further,- it is pointed out that two forms of apparatus are illustrated. While there is. but slight difierence in the construction and operation of the two modified forms of apparatus, the typeillustrated inFigure 2 is peferre'd, it being understood that the filter, which will be described in detail presently, is substantially the same on Figure 2 as illustrated in Figure 1.

Certain acid treated claysiare mixed with the diluted or contaminated oils placed in the tank land which have the effectof abi sorbing the impurities, such as dirt, carbon and the like from the 011. The mixture,that

is the 'clay and oil is injected into the-tank through the filler opening 4, which has a suitable'coveror cap as shown in the drawingsvided for the tank andajdischa'rge pipe 6 is disposed at the small end: of" the funnel shaped lower portion ofthe tank 1.;

It will be noted that the steamheating jacket 2' is likewise funnel shaped so as to embrace. the discharge pipe '6. at its lower end. Also surrounding the discharge pipe 6 innned-iately below the lower end of the A suitable pressure gauge 5 is pro-- jacket 2 is a burner 7 whereby heat may be appliedto the exterior of the said jacket 2 and within the jacket I) and will emerge through the flue 8' communicating with'the top of the exterior jacket 3, as shown in Figure 1 especially. i f

In the construction shown in Figure 1 lateral pipes 9 are projected through the tank 1 so asto efl'ect thorough circulation of heatthroughout the contentsof the tank. It has been stated that the annular space hetween the exterior acket'g and the intermediate jacket 2 is heated through the medium of the gas or oil burner 7 surrounding the discharge pipe 6. In order-to supply heat into the annular space between the jacket 2 and the outer walls of the tankl, the pipe 10 is provided which is connected tothe steam" supply tank 11 and introduces steam into the said space and thereby uniformly heats the exterior surface of the walls ofthe tank 1 and circulates through the tank through pipes'9, which, as apparent in Figure 1, com municate with the space between thetainkl and the jacket 2. Additional pipes com municate with the space between the inter- 'mediate jacket 2 and outer jacket 3. Thus,-

the heat rises from; the burner 7 as well as H the heat of the steam. injected through the pipe 10, as stated.

Due to the circulation of heat from the two sources explained, a topping operation is carried out, that is to say, the lighter volatile constituents will be converted into vapors which ascend. through the pipe 1 2, to enter a condenser 13 wherein they will be reduced again to liquid form. Further mention of the evaporating steps will he made presently. In order to supply the burner 7 with fuel,

pipe 14 is provided through which gas or fuel oil may be supplied to the burner; whosethereby minimizing entrainment of gases in.

the oil, which would be the case should me .chanical agitation be employed. To aid in the topping or vaporizing step of the process,

the. oil is heated toa-veryhigh degree and maintained so throughout the operation.

Aslap parent in Figure 1, the pipe 6 discharges into an air filter 18, which is provided with a pressure gauge 19. The temperature withinthis filter ismaintained at a high degree of heat by. the exhaust of steam from the steam jacket 3, which passes through V ously, when the valve 16 in t-he pipe 6 is actuthe pipe-20, which communicates with the 'steam jacket near the top ofthe apparatus and'enters the filter 18, in which it is convoluted before itspassage therefrom. Obviated to allow the contents of thetank'l to enter the filter 18, the mixture of-oilf and clay thus entering the filter will be subjected to the heat radiating from the convoluted portion of the pipe 20, at approximately 453 R,

which is a'prerequisite'for speedyfiltration.

'The valve 16 is not opened until after the topping operation referred to has been com- 'A' base flange 21 is provided atthe bottom of the filter 18 and which has an annular bead or rib .22 on the undersidethereof. A disc 23 is hingedly connected to the flange on one side and is locked diametrically opposite by abolt 2 1. 'The disc 23 is perforated and a layer ofpaper 25 or other suitable material is placed thereon. A layer of fabric 26 is then placed on the layer of paper 25 and a foram'inons screen 27 is placed on-top ofthe fabric. It is pointed out that the oil, the viscosity of which is lowered by the application .of heat, filters through laminations of fabric'and paper and the perforations in the disc 23. 1 V

Filtration of oil through'the laminations of fabric and paper is augmentedor speeded up by the application of air under pressure "through the pipe 28, fragmenta-rily shown as entering thetop of the filter 18 and is connected with any type of conventional air compressor or the like. In thus forcing the oil to filter, it is received within the bowl 29, which is an integral part of the perforated disc or plate/23 and which is provided with an-outlet atits, bottom, as shown in Figure 1.

Afterall-of the oil has been forced out of the filter 18, the bolt 2-1 is removed so as to allow the disc 23 to swing downwardly. The layer of paper 25, and the layer of fabric 26, upon which the deposits of clay repose may the removed. and a new layer substituted for another operation.

The foregoing description being definitive of both structureand function, it is regarded as sufficient to explain theoperation of the machine, Also,'the description deals with the structure shown in Figure 1, which is substantially the same as the variation or modified form of the apparatus shown in Figure 2, with the exception of the fact that the heat ci'rculating ordistributingpipes 30, shown in Figure 2 are vertically disposed instead ofbeing horizontally disposed as shown V inFigure. 1.; Moreover, the jacket 2 extends above thetank 1 and'the filler nozzle 4, must of necessity extend through the upper'end of the jacket 2. Otherwise the structure and operation is identical. 1

Manifestly, the :construction shown is capable of some-modification and such modifioo j cation as is considered within. the scope and meaning of the appended clalms 1S also consideredwithin thespirit, and intent of. the invention] r i V hat I claim,.-is, r I

1. Thehereindescribed process fol-reclamation of. used lubricating'oilswhich resides in introducingthe-oils, together wit-h acidulated clay in Y an amount sufiicient to restore the oil to its original specification, in'a confined zoneand heatingthe mixture to aitem peraturetodriveofi the more volatile nonlubricating oils without cracking the lubricating oil, then in agitating the mixture 7 solely by passing a continuous strea'mof air therethrough of such predetermined pressure toyefiect complete agitation and mixture of the oil and clay and to drive off said vapors by said air stream, then as a continuous step drawing off the mixture and filtering the same prior to substantial cooling thereof by super atmospheric air pressure.

2. The hereindescribed process for recla mation of used lubricating oils which resides in introducing the oils, together with acidulated clay in an amount suflicient to restore the oil to its original specification, in a confined zone and heating the mixture to a temperature to drive off the more volatile nonlubricating oils Without cracking the lubricating oil, then in agitating the mixture solely by passing a continuous stream of air therethrough of such predetermined pressure to effect complete agitation and mixture of the oil and clay and to drive off said vapors by said air stream, then indrawing oil the mixture into a separate zone, and filtering same at a temperature substantlally approximating that vof said initial temperature by the mixture substantially entirely by passing .a continuous stream of gaseous medium therethrough of such predetermined pressure to effect complete agitation and mixture of the oil and clay and to drive off said vapors by said stream of gaseous medium, then as a continuous step drawing off the mixture and filtering the same under super atnwspheric gaseous pressure while still retaining a substantial quantity of the heat of the aforesaid heating step. V I

4. The hereindescribed method for reclamation of used lubricating oils which resides in introducing the oils and acidulated clay in an amount sufiicient to restore the oil to its original specification, in a confined zone and heating the mixture to a temperature to drive off the more volatile non lubricating oils Without cracking the lubricating oil, in agitating-the mixture substantially entirely by passing-a continuous stream of gaseous me .dium therethrough of such a predetermined pressure as to effect complete agitation and mixtureiof the oil and clay and to drive off said vapors by said stream, drawing off the mixture into a separate zone and filteringthe same under super atmospheric gaseous pres sure applied to the surface of the mixture While still retaining a substantiallquantity of the heat of the aforesaid heating step.

5.' The hereindescribed process for reclamation of used lubricating oils Which resides in introducing the oils and acidulated clay in an amount suflicient to restore the oil to its original specification} in a confined zone and heating the mixture to a temperature to drive off the more volatile non lubricating oil,'agitating the mixture substantially entirely by the introduction of a stream'of gaseous me diunr upwardly through the body the oil under such a predetermined pressure as to effect complete agitation of the mixture of oil and clay and to drive off said yapors by said stream, Withdrawing the mixture after it has been thus treated to a sep arate zone and there subjecting it to filtration while still retaining a substantial quantity of the heat of the aforesaid heating step.

6. i The hereindescribed process for reclamation of usedlubricating oils Wliiichresides in introducing the oils and aeidulated clay in anamount sufficient to restore the" oil to its original specification in a confined'zone and heating the mixture to a temperature to drive off the more volatile non lubricating oils to a condensation zone, agitating the mixture sul stantially entirely by passing; a stream of gaseous 'medium upwardly therethrough While maintaining the pressure oi -said gaseous medium to anextent sufficient to agitate the mixtureof oil; and clay and to maintain 1 the clay particles in a state of suspension in the body of the heatedoils and to also drive off the vapors to the. condensationzone, Withdrawing the mixture of oil and clay thus treated toia separate filtration/zone and foreing the oil While still retaining a substam tial quantity of the heatof the aforesaid heating step, through said filtration zone.

LEWIS J. IRELANn; 

